Last meeting: Shippensburg defeated Waynesboro 49-20 at Shippensburg in 2011.

Gametime forecast: Clear skies, 70 degrees.

The Waynesboro Indians go on the road for the second straight week, and the going won’t get any easier against this week’s opponent.

The Shippensburg Greyhounds are 4-1 overall, 2-1 in the Mid-Penn Colonial Division and are in the hunt for a league championship. The Greyhounds, a team that features three players with 300 or more rushing yards, is playing for a return to the District III playoffs.

Standing in the way is Waynesboro, a team coming off a disappointing 19-14 loss to previously winless Gettysburg. The Indians had a shot at the win but a fourth-down and goal pass fell short in the waning moments.

“I think at this point it is gut check time,” said Waynesboro coach Scott Shacreaw, whose team will be without linebacker Nick Roefaro for a second straight week due to injury. “Last week was a tough loss for us. This week will show what type of team we are.

“This is certainly a tough game to bounce back against.

Shippensburg has done a nice job developing the big guys they have right now. If we want to have any chance this week, we have got to come out as physical as we have ever played and not allow big plays.”

A good start for the Tribe is essential, something they did not have the past two games. The Warriors scored in the first minute of the game and had a 19-7 lead in the second half before Waynesboro cut into the deficit with a fourth-quarter score. Keeping Shippensburg’s high-scoring offense off the field is also key.

“We need to stuff things up at the point of attack,” Shacreaw said. “They have a big offensive line which will present certain challenges, but I think the key is just removing air. If they are going to run the football for positive yardage, let’s make it a tough few yards as opposed to big gainers, and our linebackers will have a night ahead of them if that is going to work.”

Without Roefaro’s physicality, Waynesboro will be looking for players to fill the void until he returns. T.J. Bibbs will play offensive tackle in Roefaro’s place.

Big plays have hurt the Indians this season. And, it begins at the point of attack. Conversely, Waynesboro hasn’t been able to make up for it on offense. The Indians rely heavily on running back Johnnie Adgers, who has delivered and then some for the spread offense. But the offense that is predicated on the pass has lacked firepower in the air.

Still, Waynesboro’s success on offense has come predominantly on the ground. Shacreaw hopes that will continue this week against Shippensburg’s base 3-4 defense.

Page 2 of 2 - “I think it is important to mix things up offensively this week,” Shacreaw said. “We will have some new wrinkles built in this week to allow us to expand on our running game.

“I also think it is important to get a passing game going. We have solid skill players but we need to be more effective when dropping back with the football.”

Indian quarterbacks Aaron Conrad and Connor Fetterhoff have had some success in the air, completing key passes to the likes of Galen McDonald, Ben Petrie, Clay Eberhardt, Ryan Heinrich and Nathan Eisenhauer. Against an aggressive, ball-hawking defense like Shippensburg, keeping the Greyhounds a little on their heels will be essential if Waynesboro wants to experience any success running the ball.

Waynesboro’s defense will have to pay attention to numerous players, including fullback William Burt. Burt is the team’s leading rusher with 480 yards and four touchdowns. The jujnior is averaging over seven yards a carry. He’s comlemented by running backs Tony Johnson (330 yards, 7 TDs) and Tyrell Kater (304 yards, 5 TDs).

“They have thrown the ball a lot this season than they have done in the past,” Shacreaw said. “Beyond allowing Burt to get his carries, they like to distribute the ball to some of their other playmakers, including Johnson.

“Schematically, they will predominantly run the Wing-T offense with a hop into a trips look when they want to spread things out a bit.”

Junior quarterback Seth Frey has passed for 481 yards on 20 completions to six different receivers.